Alexander



(Model.)

A. C. FRANKEL. Trunk Fastener.

Patented Oct. I2

UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ALEXANDER C. FRANKEL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO JACOB LAGOWITZ,F SAME PLACE.

TRUNK-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 233,229, dated October12, 1880.

Application filed April 15, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER C. FRANK- EL, of Newark, in the county ot'Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements inTrunk-Fastenings, of which the following` is a specification.

M v invention relates to a catch or fastening applicable to trunks,chests, 85o., to hold them shut; and it consists in the peculiarconstructo tion and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described indetail.

Figure 1 represents a face 'view of my device in its locked position;Fig. 2, a central section of the same on the line .fr x of Fig. l;

Fig. 3, a similar section ot' the same as it appears when unlocked; Fig.4, a section on the line y y.

A represents the body of the device consistin g of a plate provided withholes to receive zo fastening-screws and with a front projection, a,which latter has its rea-r side made hollow to receive a spring, andnotched at b b to receive the upper end ot' the catch or hasp.

B represents the hasp or catch, having at the upper end a cross-bar, c,seated in the notches b in the back of the body. From the ends ofthecross-bar the hasp extends downward along both sides ofthe projection a,and terminates at the lower end in a tongue orend 3o provided with alip, d., and adapted to enter and engage rml y with the keeper-plate.The lip d has an upward inclination, in order that it' may engage themore securely with the keeper and prevent the device from unlocking 3 5accidentally.

In order that the lip maybe locked upward into the keeper, as stated,the recesses or grooves b in the body are made ot' such length as topermit a limited vertical play ot' the 4o hasp, and in the back of thebody beneath the upper cross-bar of the hasp there is mounted a spiralspring, e, which serves to urge the hasp upward. When the hasp isfastened the spring holds it upward and prevents the lip d fromunlocking; but when it is desired to unfasten the device a slightdownward pull or pressure will overcome the spring and depress the hasp,so that it may be disengaged and turned upward, as represented in Fig.3. The

5o pressure ot` the spring also causes sufficient friction to keep thehasp in its elevated posisition when released and turned upward, as inFig. 3. When the baspis depressed a slight pressure is sutlicient tocause the parts to lock.

In order to insure a smooth easy action of the parts a thin metal backplate, g, may be used behind the body, as shown.

The keeper-plate C is recessed, as shown, to receive the hasp, and inorder that the latter may not be broken when the trunk is rolled or 6othrown about the keeper and the middle of the body are raised, as shown,to protect the hasp from blows.

ln order to relieve the hasp and give the trunk additional security thebody ot' the fast- 65 ening is provided with two studs, h, which entercorresponding recesses in the keeper, as shown.

It will be noted that in my device the spring is not designed to anddoes not receive the 7o strain, but that it serves merely to hold thehasp in its locked and unlocked positions, while the spring permits avery limited longitudinal movement ot' the hasp, in order that thelatter may be unlocked and strain applied to open the lock will beresisted by the full strength ot' the hasp locking tirmly and rigidly inplace.

What l claim as my invention isl. The combination ot' the body-plate,the 8oA outwardly-swinging hasp connected securely to said plate, andhavinga slight longitudinal play thereon, the keeper, and the springarranged to urge the hasp upward, as described and shown.

2. 1n a trunk-tastener, the combination of the body-plate, theoutwardly-swinging and longitudinally-lnoving hasp, and the spiralspring arranged to urge the hasp upward endwise, and also to hold it inan elevated posi- 9o tion when unlocked.

The combination of the body-plate, the spiral spring, the outwardly7swinging and longitudinally-moving hasp arranged to engage solidly withthe body-plate and provided with the upwardly-inclined lip, and thekeeper recessed to receive said lip.

ALEXANDER U. FRANKEL.

Witnesses J AMES A. BEUEs, F. P. SrUBENBoED'r.

